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Back in the day it was a far simpler choice, but times have changed and environmental concerns are driving change.
In 2015, the Government set a target to “ensure almost every car and van is a zero emission vehicle by 2050” and in 2017 it announced “it will end the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040".
To help improve air quality, an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been in place in central London since 8 April 2019, in the same area as the congestion charge. Most vehicles, including vans, have to meet new, tighter exhaust emission standards or be liable for a daily charge to drive within the ULEZ area.
Five other cities, including Leeds and Newcastle, are set to follow London by introducing clean air zones, plus many local authorities.
Companies are being forced to include electric vans in their fleet mix to meet the challenge, but as with any big decision there are advantages and disadvantages.
Manufacturers are rising to the challenge too. Nissan, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot are among the firms already offering electrified van ranges, while Ford (Europe’s number one commercial vehicle brand) has announced ambitious plans to launch hybrid and plug-in hybrids vans, plus an all-new 100% electric Transit, in 2021.
1. Lower running costs
Electric vans are considerably cheaper to run than diesel alternatives because the cost per mile of electricity is lower.
For instance, Citroen claims its Berlingo Electric costs 2-3p per mile to run on average – that’s less than £2 per 40 miles.
Use our journey cost calculator to for a full cost-per-mile breakdown compared to a petrol or diesel car.
2. Cheaper to maintain
There are fewer moving parts in electric vehicles and they’re less hard on their brakes, so maintenance costs are reduced.
You can also expect lower tax, company car tax and congestion charges, too.
Electric vans produce zero tailpipe emissions. This makes them ideal for improving air quality, especially in urban areas, and reducing harmful CO2 and NOx emissions.
There are various schemes to encourage the use of electric vehicles and the commercial world is no different. These include the Government Plug-in Van Grant, which is worth up to 20% off the list price (up to a maximum of £8,000), plus reduced tax burdens for both business and private use. There are even grants towards the cost of workplace chargers.
Other examples of benefits range from free parking in some areas, exemption from London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge and even free charging.
5. Image booster
Having an electric van or a whole fleet demonstrates to your customers that you have an environmental conscience.
As the need to tackle climate change becomes ever more urgent and many cities look to address air pollution by introducing low or zero emissions zones limiting access of polluting vehicles, companies are switching to electric vehicles to lower business risk and future-proof operations.
7. Easy to drive
Electric vehicles are much simpler to drive. Broadly speaking, you press the accelerator to go and you brake (or simply lift off) to stop. There's no changing gear and they’re very nippy around town because electric motors deliver instant torque.
It's also a much more pleasant experience because electric motors are virtually silent, apart from a distant hum or whine.
1. Range anxiety
It's estimated that around a third of vans never cover more than 80 miles in a day and this makes electric vans (with a typical range of 100 miles) a viable workhorse.
However, range anxiety – where an electric vehicle driver is worried that the battery will run out of power before the destination or a suitable charging point is reached – is still a major factor for many.
Until battery technology moves on and ranges increase, drivers covering longer distances would suffer significant downtime because they’d have to stop and recharge at regular intervals.
However, chargers are becoming more common. Find your closest available charger with our electric car charging point map.
2. Charging challenges
There are some 20,000 public charging points across the UK and many homes and businesses have their own. The number is growing all the time, but there are still gaps in the UK, especially in rural areas – and you're not guaranteed a charger space when you arrive at a location such as motorway services. Of these, only around 1,000 are rapid chargers.
To put that into perspective, the popular Nissan e-NV200 van takes 7.5 hours to fully charge from flat using a wallbox charger. At the other end of the scale, a rapid 50kW charger can charge it from 20% to 80% in 40 minutes.
3. Initial outlay
The up-front cost of electric vans tends to be higher than conventionally-powered alternatives, but it's thought they will become more competitively priced as they gain in popularity. Leasing is one way to cut costs, but whatever you do, it's important to calculate the whole life costs taking into account the purchase price, plus fuel, tax, maintenance and congestion charges.
4. Reduced payload
The amount of weight an electric van can carry is often reduced slightly because of heavy components such as batteries. Additionally, high payloads can reduce the available range, just like aggressive driving and cold weather use.
5. How green?
There's no doubt that electric vehicles are kinder to the environment than petrol and diesel alternatives. However, critics point out that even though renewables (eg wind and solar) are on course to overtake fossil fuels (gas and coal) for the first time as the UK’s primary electricity source as early as 2020, for now most electricity is produced by gas, coal and nuclear power stations.
All new vehicles depreciate the moment they are driven off the forecourt. There has been a question mark over the residual values of electric vehicles, but industry experts expect this to change as the initial cost of EVs becomes more affordable and the charging infrastructure and battery technology improves. In short, the gap is closing between EVs and conventionally-powered vehicles.


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Chinese state-owned newspaper China Daily is entering the NFT (non-fungible token) space, planning to develop a metaverse and NFT platform despite the nation’s stringent restrictions on cryptocurrencies. The publication has earmarked 2.813 million Yuan ($390,000) for a third-party contractor to create this platform, opening the opportunity to both Chinese and foreign blockchain specialists. The blockchain’s mainnet should support over 10,000 transactions per second.
The ambitious project is intended to enhance the global influence of Chinese civilization, leveraging technologies including metaverse, VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), blockchain, NFTs, big data, and cloud computing. The NFT platform will facilitate the management, display, and uploading of various digital collections, incorporating pricing, bidding, and limited-time functions. It will also support multi-currency settlements.
Although China has implemented a comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency transactions, China Daily’s NFTs may potentially be available on renowned international platforms like OpenSea and Rarible. This initiative underscores the complex and evolving stance towards digital assets and blockchain technology in China, illustrating a nuanced approach beyond the broad cryptocurrency prohibition.
The move by a government-affiliated entity into the NFT space could herald a new chapter in China’s engagement with digital assets, blending cultural promotion with cutting-edge technology.

domain: news


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July 2, 2020 | 13:30
The House of Lords Gambling Committee has published Gambling Harm – Time for Action, a new report that calls for the immediate regulation of loot boxes in video games under the Gambling Act 2005.
The report joins a growing number of voices calling for closer attention to and regulation of loot boxes in the UK. As we reported last month, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) has already launched a call for further evidence on loot boxes to help support the Government's review of the Gaming Act 2005, which was announced in the Queens Speech in December 2019. This call for further evidence comes despite loot boxes having been around for many years and made notorious in part by Star Wars: Battlefront II as far back as 2017. Indeed, the new Lords report is clear that it thinks there is evidence enough already:
‘We recommend that Ministers should make regulations under section 6(6) of the Gambling Act 2005 specifying that loot boxes and any other similar games are games of chance, without waiting for the Government’s wider review of the Gambling Act.’
The basis for this recommendation comes from evidence primarily given by Dr David Zendle, lecturer in Computer Science at the University of York. Dr Zendle’s research indicates a clear and very strong correlation between spending on loot boxes and problem gambling i.e. the more money you spend on loot boxes, the more likely you are to be classified as having problem gambling. While this doesn’t prove one causes the other, Dr Zendle did emphasise that the evidence is ‘extraordinarily robust. It is of a magnitude that is uncommon in the social sciences. […] It has been replicated across the world, from Canada to Finland to the UK.’
The implication is that either loot boxes contribute to problem gambling or they directly exploit the pre-existing behaviour of problem gamblers - neither of which is great. While Dr Zendle would favour industry self-regulation, he is aware that ‘that has not happened’ and is therefore ‘not against’ some form of loot box regulation.
The report also cites evidence from Simone Vibert, the Senior Policy and Public Affairs Analyst from the Children’s Commissioner’s Office, which already recommended regulation of loot boxes in October 2019. Ms Vibert claims that regardless of whether items in games have real monetary value (legally speaking), ‘they have immense value to the children who are spending money to get them, whether that is to take part in the game all their friends are playing or whether it is to not be bullied, in some cases. That is where we feel the Gambling Act is not working in the way it should in the modern world.’
Neil McArthur, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, which would be responsible for implementing any regulation changes, said he would rather stay away from regulating the gaming industry but would do so if the decision was made.
Whether or not the UK Government takes on the recommendation to regulate loot boxes prior to its review of the Gaming Act 2005 remains to be seen, but there is already precedent for doing so in the EU. Certain loot boxes have been illegal in video games in The Netherlands since 2018, and Belgium followed suit with a less forgiving law of its own in the same year.
What do you think the best course of action is?
October 14 2021 | 15:04


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There have been a lot of welcome Walt Disney World entertainment announcements today, including that Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade is returning in early 2022 – in addition to cavalcades! Shawn Slater on the Disney Parks Blog says:
And in early 2022, these cavalcades will be joined by the return of the Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade. This vibrant and joyous celebration of Fantasyland brings to the streets of Magic Kingdom Park dozens of beloved Disney characters and stories, from the Disney Princess Garden to a carnival of color presided over by none other than Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
Photo copyright Disney
Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade has been a guest favorite since it debuted in 2014, and it has been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. It is great to see a full parade soon to be back in the Magic Kingdom!


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ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, DISH announced that it is providing its entire portfolio of 600 MHz spectrum to T-Mobile at no cost for 60 days. The step was taken as the nation responds to the spread of COVID-19, which has led to the closure of businesses, schools and large gatherings coast to coast.
"DISH is proud to support Americans' personal and professional connectivity needs during this challenging time," said Jeff Blum, DISH SVP of public policy and government affairs. "As we take this step, we'd like to thank the FCC for their leadership on the technological needs arising as a result of the virus, including the increased need for broadband access to help consumers respond to the impact of COVID-19 on daily life."
DISH's 600 MHz spectrum will enhance T-Mobile's network nationwide as wireless users increasingly turn to mobile networks for work and personal use.
DISH Network Corporation is a connectivity company. Since 1980, it has served as a disruptive force, driving innovation and value on behalf of consumers. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides television entertainment and award-winning technology to millions of customers with its satellite DISH TV and streaming Sling TV services. Through its strategic spectrum portfolio and other assets, DISH is poised to enter the wireless market as a facilities-based provider of wireless services with a nationwide consumer offering and development of the first virtualized, standalone 5G broadband network in the U.S. DISH's OnTech Smart Services brand offers in-home installation of connected home devices and entertainment solutions. DISH Media serves as the company's advertising sales group delivering targeted advertising solutions. DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) is a Fortune 250 company.
For company information, visit about.dish.com
For more information on DISH TV, visit www.dish.com
For more information on Sling TV, visit www.sling.com
For more information on OnTech Smart Services, visit www.ontechsmartservices.com
For more information on DISH Media, visit media.dish.com
Subscribe to DISH email alerts: http://about.dish.com/alerts
Follow @DISHNews on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DISHNews
SOURCE DISH Network Corporation


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Paysend teams up with Plaid to streamline money transfers
By Megha Bhattacharya
FinTech Paysend has teamed up with Plaid to provide their 3.5 million customers with open banking payments that enable fast, low-cost international money transfers. Paysend stated that it has enabled a smooth “click, confirm, and carry on” experience using Plaid’s open banking platform. As a result, Plaid’s instant payment initiation service reduces the time and clicks it takes to authorise a transfer by up to 80%.
In addition, with customer permissioned access to account transactions via Plaid, Paysend customers will get better insight into their own transaction data and will help improve their financial choices. Enhanced insight into their own financial data also helps prevent overspending at a time when effective money management has never been more important. As an added bonus, Paysend is now offering extra incentives for customers who send with Plaid’s Payment Initiation.
Keith Grose, Head of International, Plaid said, “In the face of economic challenges Covid-19 has brought on, fintech companies like Paysend provide an easier, more convenient, and lower-cost alternative for people to send money to friends and family abroad,” said Keith Grose, Head of International at Plaid. “With Plaid’s Open Banking payments, Paysend can offer a solution that keeps costs low and improves the user experience. Ultimately, that means their customers can send money with less hassle and get to keep more of it in their wallets.”
Recently, Paysend announced a partnership with Mastercard in a bid to boost its reach and customer base, starting with the UK and EEA. According to the company, the new partnership will support its global approach by offering a platform for strategic expansion, therefore increasing the capacity for inter-regional transactions.
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4 Enterprise Risk Management Trends and Predictions for 2022
January 4, 2022
In 2021, the pandemic threw all sorts of unexpected curve balls at corporate managers. The evolving situation challenged the accuracy of executive forecasts, the assumptions of corporate risk managers, and the depth of corporate preparation for unforeseen circumstances.
All that has built an intense current focus on evaluating and managing corporate risk, which will certainly continue and accelerate over the next year as a key focus of corporate management.
The coming year will herald all sorts of corporate change, growth, and opportunity. Here are four trends that will likely be of particular interest and focus to corporate risk managers in 2022.
1. Cybersecurity Receives Intense Attention
During the pandemic, economic losses from cyberattacks skyrocketed. Heightened awareness of cyber risk increased demand for cyber insurance, so much so that a recent S&P Global Ratings report predicts that not only will insurance rates rise sharply in 2022, but they will – in some cases – even double.
International Data Corporation (IDC) research shows corporations now rank security and compliance as top considerations that management uses to assess whether it will trust potential vendors and other third-party partners, ahead of other concerns such as privacy, sustainability, and diversity.
2. Increased Regulation
Upcoming regulatory changes, compliance dates, and federal priorities – particularly as the government invests vast new sums in infrastructure – will impact risk managers’ compliance priorities and where they need to invest time and resources.
In coming months, we will likely see new regulations fast-tracked for cybersecurity standards, first in the form of executive orders to government suppliers (which have already started), and secondly, through expansion to other regulated industries via more specialized government agencies.
Court decisions and penalties such as government fines will set a precedent, and companies will make moves to avoid the newly articulated risks of non-compliance in cybersecurity. This will create a new cybersecurity floor, a standard by which many companies will have to rise to meet. The level of security to reach mere compliance will be closer to the standard of being highly secure.
3. Third-Party Risk Focus
Forrester predicts that 60% of security incidents will result from issues with third parties. Supply chain concerns will continue well past the 2021 year-end holidays. But it is not only materials availability and delivery timetables that management are concerned about: Corporations increasingly care about verifying whether their third party suppliers have the insurance and certifications they claim to have when they initially sign contracts to provide services.
Remarkably, research has shown that for the average enterprise, 75% of third parties fail to meet contractual insurance requirements. If you’re not managing third-party risk well, you’re risking tremendous liability.
But risk can go beyond third parties. Fourth-party risks are the unseen risks introduced by your third-party partners. As an organization’s vendors maintain relationships with other vendors and partners, they become fourth parties to the organization.
Corporations can protect themselves considerably from third-party, fourth-party, and “Nth-party” risk by ensuring their own third-party risk management systems and checklists are up to par, quizzing third parties about their own third-party risk management systems, and keeping in place strong contingency and business continuity plans in case unexpected incidents do occur.
4. Accelerated Adoption of Digital Risk Management
Corporations will embrace and implement next generation technology in risk. Driven by developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as easy access to huge amounts of data, smart systems will assist, and even at times replace, human-led risk management.
Too many organizations are still managing regulatory change manually. Regulatory technology, or Regtech, has quickly become mainstream in the financial industry at this point, and it will soon become standard in almost all other businesses. Any business which is not using technology to manage regulatory compliance and changes is playing the game with a handicap.
Five or ten years ago, it was understandable why so many businesses did not have regulatory technology implemented – the technology was expensive and hard to implement a decade ago. Solutions available today, however, can be easily afforded by even small organizations and take just a few days to implement with minimal disruptions. At this point the benefits of regulatory technology easily outweigh the its costs by a significant margin.
Reasons for Optimism
The good news is that industry-wide, vendors of all sorts are becoming aware of the crucial nature of verification and are beginning to put processes and systems in place to address the issue.
The opportunity (and simultaneous obstacle) for businesses that wish to be successful in the B2B marketplace is to design systems that are much more cognizant of third-party risk, and that will verify what is essential for given role or service qualifications. Strong verification can be effective at reducing risk and liability and ensuring brand integrity, profits, and growth.


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Is TikTok safe for 11 year olds?
What age is TikTok recommended for.
Common Sense recommends the app for age 15+ mainly due to the privacy issues and mature content.
TikTok requires that users be at least 13 years old to use the full TikTok experience, although there is a way for younger kids to access the app..
Why is Tik Tok bad?
TikTok addresses dangerous challenges, censorship and security. TikTok has been getting a lot of attention over the past year — and not necessarily for good reasons. … On the other hand, the app has received some bad press for everything from promoting dangerous challenges to allegedly censoring creators.
Is TikTok a spy app?
The administration has explicitly claimed TikTok spies on people but has never offered public evidence. Experts diving through TikTok’s code and policies say the app collects user data in a similar way to Facebook and other popular social apps.
Can you put parental controls on TikTok?
Parental Controls Parents can manage access to TikTok and other apps rated 12+ through settings in Apple and Android devices. … To do this, go to Google Play on your child’s Android device and navigate to Menu > Settings > Parental Controls.
Who owns TikTok?
Related Coverage. ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming resisted the sale of TikTok last year despite calls from his large Western investors to do so. ByteDance, which counts General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital among its backers, was valued at $180 billion in December, according to investment data research company PitchBook.
Is there a kid version of TikTok?
Ringelstein, the former founder of UClass (acquired in 2015), launched Zigazoo, which he describes as a “TikTok for kids.” Zigazoo is a free app where kids can answer short video-based exercises that they can answer through video and share responses with friends.
Will TikTok be banned in the US?
Bloomberg’s sources claim that TikTok won’t be banned or assigned a new deadline. TikTok will continue talks with the US government to meet the prerequisites in place for a buyer. … President Donald Trump called ByteDance and its TikTok app a threat to national security.
Why is TikTok getting banned in the US?
Donald Trump confirms the government is considering banning TikTok due to national security concerns: … The President of the United States is going to ban TikTok because some teenagers ruined his pep rally.
Will TikTok ever die?
Tik won’t be dying off this year at least it will thrive. TikTok is backed by a lot of funding, but Snap also was. Snap isn’t dead but it certainly has lost is popularity amongst some demographics, so one could theorize the same may apply to TikTok. Also depends on whether TikTok can be effectively monetized.
Why TikTok is dangerous?
Danger #2: Data mining, selling, and storage The first concern many users (and parents of young users) have about TikTok is the way data is stored and potentially shared. … “All of these platforms, at least in part, are monetizing your data. That’s what they do. And the more data they have, the more money they can make.


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The modularity of the multi-use exhibition display stand allows for clean disassembly and reuse across events, an effort to support the transition towards a waste-free future.
To showcase the newly launched range of acoustic design solutions, Rockfon partnered with the Copenhagen-based architecture and production house Archival Studies for a new sustainable exhibition stand concept.
First unveiled at the Workspace Expo in Paris, France, in April 2023, the exhibition concept is designed for reuse and will continuously make appearances at forthcoming trade fairs and exhibitions, including the Workspace Design Show in Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 2023 (view the Rockfon Events Schedule here).
As part of the exhibit, attendees can touch, feel, and smell the different elements that make up the new range in a raw material library, including volcano stone – the primary component of Rockfon solutions – and the leaves, Alpine meadow flowers, and moss that make up the tactile surfaces of Rockfon Senses acoustic wall panels.
The exhibition display stand is a modular wooden structure crafted from CNC-milled laminated plywood. The wood’s surfaces change over time, gaining imperfections, and coming to embody the innovation and experiences enjoyed at industry events.
By the end of each fair, the lightweight panels are disassembled, packed, transported, and stored until the next scheduled event.
“There’s a lot of waste created in the trade show industry”, said Christian Klinge, Director of Design Solutions at Rockfon. “With this modular reuse concept, we hope to inspire others to take a similar approach.”
The new exhibition design falls under ROCKWOOL Group’s commitment to circular principles and a waste-free society. Much like the construction industry, the events industry is one of the largest producers of emissions and waste. One 2017 study estimates that a three-day trade show with 11 600 m2 of occupied area generates around 75.5 tonnes of CO2. Although an approximate measure has been challenging for research bodies to obtain, the production and disposal of display stands undeniably contribute to that number. An adoption of the “Three Rs” (reuse, reduce, recycle) and responsible material sourcing are some of the most impactful actions that exhibitors can take to address the collective action dilemma of emissions and waste in the events industry, while still being present.
For ROCKWOOL, reducing waste across business and marketing activities is one effort in supporting a transition towards a waste-free society. It complements the following goals set for the production and recycling processes of stone wool solutions:
Reduce factory waste going to landfill by 85 percent by 2030 compared to 2015
Increase the number of countries with reclaimed material services to 30 by 2030
To learn more about ROCKWOOL’s commitments and achievements in reducing waste, download the 2022 edition of the Sustainability Report.


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Cbs sports not updating gary brodsky alpha dating review
People commenting on the CBSSports app are saying some pretty harsh things about the app. This is supposed to be an application that awards ,000.
There is a lot of beer money at stake, not to mention that chance at ,000 CBS Sports is offering to anyone whose picks end up in the top 10 percent.For instance, yesterday it didn’t know that Texas A&M won against BYU. Alas, Facebook says otherwise, with A&M coming up in red.We were alerted to this problem by Jake Pease, a student at the University of Florida, who wrote in an e-mail: I just wanted to report on the issues I’ve seen with the CBSSports Facebook app that has users peeved on the forums. On top of this, if you refresh your bracket a few times, you’ll see different calculations for your current score.But it is an even more serious issue for CBS Sports. This is the risk big brands take when they put an app on Facebook.The official CBS Sports app has been updated to work with Android TV devices. The app is incompatible with the original ADT-1 Android TV developer device. Which, for those following along at home, represents 100% of the Android TV hardware on the market at the moment. The developers probably forgot to include the flag for Android TV support in the app manifest.
Either that, or they included support for Android TV in general, but denied specific support for both of the ATV set-top boxes that have actually launched. The app might just work if you side-loaded it onto an ATV device, but I doubt anyone will go to the trouble.


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Customer relationship management (CRM) activities powered by artificial intelligence will add $1.1 trillion to global business revenue by 2021, market intelligence firm IDC said in a recent report. In a bid to stay ahead in the game, Salesforce, the company known for disrupting the CRM industry, launched Salesforce Einstein last year, an AI-powered platform to make Salesforce a smart CRM.
Global CRM providers from India, including Zoho and FreshWorks, are also investing in building product lines around AI and analytics to match up to global rivals. Zoho has about 150 employees working on Zia, an AI-powered sales assistant that it launched in February. FreshWorks, earlier known as Freshdesk, a maker of customer engagement software, has also set up a highly experienced team to build an AI platform and integrate it with all of its products.
“We have integrated Zia with our CRM product,” said Mani Vembu, chief operating officer at Zoho. He said the company’s AI platform will soon be integrated with its help desk product, followed by other products, to integrate Zia with its entire suite of enterprise-based offerings.


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Santa Cruz, CA—This summer marks the nine year anniversary of Yōso Wellness Spa in Santa Cruz and they’re celebrating with a community event! Join them on Sunday, June 27, 2021 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at their spa at 740 Front Street #110 for a 9 Year Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser featuring entertainment from The Coffis Brothers, Trike a Pose Photobooth and Happily Ever Laughter. Food and drinks by collaborative sponsors Hanloh Thai, Golden Kitchen Roots, Luna Sea Vodka, and Humble Sea. This family-friendly celebration is free, with food, drink and raffle purchases going to LifeLab, a local non-profit!
Yōso Wellness Spa owner/esthetician Jennalee Dahlen is excited to celebrate nine years in business as of June 9, 2021. Initially founded as Santa Cruz Skin Solutions in 2012 with a focus on facials and body treatments, Dahlen has expanded the company over the past year to include their new retail store “Yoso the Annex” on Cooper St. dedicated to treasured self care, high vibrations, clean beauty and intentional living & earthy goods for a sustainable lifestyle.
“What a time to celebrate as we more than survived, but rather thrived as a personal service business through the COVID19 pandemic,” says Dahlen. At Yoso we have always made a focus on creating a space that our clients and community could feel whole from skin to soul. Yoso would truly not be able to have our doors open for our ninth anniversary if it was not for our community standing by our side through the pandemic, we are truly better together. What a beautiful and special way to honor our clients and community that have made all of this possible than to celebrate with everyone!”
In conjunction with celebrating getting through COVID and Yoso’s 9 year anniversary, Yoso Wellness Spa is taking this gathering as a time to give back to the community and fundraise for LifeLab. This year it was important to support a non-profit that supports children’s education and garden-based learning. “After this past year a program like LifeLab being available for children was a necessity and yet they were also impacted as well with programs being closed and their summer camps this summer being cancelled due to USCS maximum capacity for people. What better non-profit to support than one that is so important for kids and we need around for a long time to come!” says Dahlen.
To support the fundraiser, Yoso Wellness has started collecting raffle prizes from local Santa Cruz area businesses including NextSpace, Kitchen Witch Bone Broth, MAH, Botanic and Luxe, Hotel Paradox, and many more! Yoso encourages guests to have fun participating in the raffle. Raffle tickets will be available at the event for $5, or 5 for $20. Yoso will also be offering food for purchase and drink tickets for $5 each. Proceeds from this collaborative community event will benefit LifeLab.
Yōso Wellness Spa is a member of the Monterey Bay Green Business Program, the Eminence Green Spa Program, Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Santa Cruz Association. Recent accolades include Be the Difference Award- 2019, SWELLIES Favorite Facial, Spa and Green Business- 2020, and Good Times Best of Day Spa 2021 among others.


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Successor of the Xiaomi Mi Note has been the subject of a lot of leaks and
rumors in the last few weeks.
today new leaks suggest that Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will be the first from Xiaomi to
pack 6GB of RAM.
to these leaks the smartphone will also feature:
inch display with dual curved display screen
latest Snapdragon 821 processor
of internal storage which can be expanded via Micro SD up to 128GB
Nougat 7.0 OS


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Austrian array company Anagnostics recently achieved a CE-IVD mark for a test that could help clinicians guide treatment for patients with sepsis. Separately, the firm announced a new distribution partnership in Belgium, further expanding its presence in Europe.
Anagnostics' test, called Hybcell Pathogens DNA PlexA, runs on the firm's Hyborg array platform. Markus Jaquemar, Anagnostics' managing director of sales, marketing, and business development, told BioArray News this week that the test targets 16 gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, "covering the most significant bacteria encountered."
While most commercially available arrays are printed on slides, Anagnostics prints its Hybcell arrays on cylinders that are processed in sample containers. The newly CE-IVD marked sepsis test pairs the Hybcell's properties with Molzym's SepsiTest sample preparation kit, which is used to extract pathogens from blood samples, followed by amplification of the targeted bacterial genomes, and a compact sequencing step.
According to Anagnostics, turnaround time for the new assay from DNA extraction to result is about three and a half hours. St. Valentin-based Anagnostics licensed the rights to use Bremen, Germany-based Molzym's kit as part of its test earlier this year (BAN 7/10/2012).
In addition to the new sepsis test, privately held Anagnostics also sells a number of panels for use on the Hyborg, such as its Drugs of Abuse Saliva PlexB and Urine PlexA assays have both been CE-IVD marked, and its Drugs of Abuse Urine PlexB and Oncogenes Tissue PlaxA test for KRAS mutations, which are available for research use.
The company said that it plans to launch a multiplexed test for fungi in the next six months, as well as an assay to monitor "10 critical inflammation parameters" by the end of the year. Jaquemar said that the fungi test will identify a series of candida and aspergillus species and that Anagnostics will achieve a CE-IVD mark for it in the first quarter of 2013. He added that the inflammation test is currently available for research use.
Separately, Anagnostics recently signed a distribution agreement with Analis, a Namur, Belgium-based firm, to commercialize its products in Belgium and Luxembourg. The company serves clinical laboratories in the region with life sciences and clinical diagnostics tools, according to its website.
The deal is the latest in a string of distribution pacts for Anagnostics. Over the past year, the company has inked similar agreements with GenXpress Service & Vertriebs to distribute its pharmacogenetics-focused assays in Austria; Ramcon to reach customers in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; Cell.Eng to represent it in Italy; Invicon to sell its products in Germany; and Biogenetix to represent it in the Romanian market (BAN 7/10/2012).
Jaquemar said that Anagnostics is currently discussing similar partnerships in Germany, Switzerland, the UK, and other European countries. The path to the North American and Asian markets is less certain though.
"We are currently evaluating a possible scenario for accessing the US market, but it is clear that a strong partner in the US would certainly accelerate that process," said Jaquemar. "As far as Asia is concerned, we have no definite plans as of now, apart from India and the Middle East, where we are already screening the market with potential distribution partners," he said.


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NIGERIA - The Triton Group of companies has invested $64million into the Nigerian Aquaculture industry as part of effort to boost local production of Tilapia and Catfish in the country.
ZIMBABWE -Zimbabwe's poultry industry total chick production went up by 22 percent to 78,4 million birds in 2014 from 64,4 million recorded in 2013, a latest industry report has indicated.
NIGERIA - The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has begun the training of key stakeholders in the poultry industry to enhance disease prevention, detection and control.
ZAMBIA - The increase in chicken feed is likely to push some poultry farmers out of business if there are no measures to reduce the impact.
SOUTH AFRICA - Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies is optimistic that the current deadlock in the negotiations between South African and American poultry producers about the latter being granted greater access to the local market will be overcome.
NAMIBIA - Kosie Henn, market development manager at Namib Poultry Industries, has announced that as part of developing the local chicken food market in Namibia, the company has come up with the Tuxies Fast Food menu as a first in Namibia.
SOUTH AFRICA - Negotiators for the South African and US chicken industries have agreed on the principles for settling the dispute that has been threatening SA’s preferential access to the US market, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Wednesday night.
KENYA - Use of hormones in breeding of fish is being phased out in a bid to meet key market safety standards and step up production.
NIGERIA - The federal government has disclosed that there was escalation of avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird-flu (H5N1 virus) in three states of the federation, including Kano, Plateau and Bauchi.
SOUTH AFRICA - African and US poultry producers have so far failed to agree on a mutually acceptable volume of imported US chicken which could enter SA free of antidumping duties.
ZAMBIA - The agriculture sub-sector of poultry has not been spared from economic shocks mainly caused by the weakening Kwacha and other related production factors.
More Articles ...
- Bird flu spreads to 18 states
- Bird flu cases on the increase in Plateau, poultry farmers cry out
- Poultry offer fails to feather US farmers’ nests
- Receding avian influenza takes 17 of every 100,000 birds
- Continental project to focus on potential fish trade for income in Africa
- Government to achieve 100,000 tons fish production
- FG disburses N145m as compensation to poultry owners
- Rivers quarantines farm as bird flu hits state


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Two Salt Lake County auto dealers were charged Friday with falsifying odometer readings on cars purchased in California and sold to dealerships in Utah.
John P. Thomas, 53, and Vaughn D. Humphrey, 53, are accused in separate 3rd Circuit criminal complaints of buying vehicles and rolling back or disconnecting mileage meters.Utah Motor Vehicle Division investigators worked with California authorities to track down 32 separate incidents between August and October 1988.
Court documents say 16 vehicles purchased by Thomas Auto, 3345 S. State, during that time had odometers rolled back as much as 30,000 miles before being sold to a Utah dealership and a local firm.
Humphrey, of Von's Auto at 4250 S. State, is accused of buying the vehicles, changing odometer readings and selling the cars with the lower mileage readings to four area dealerships.
Both men are accused of theft by deception, selling vehicles with altered odometers, making false odometer statements and a pattern of unlawful activity for allegedly orchestrating the scam, court documents say.
Warrants have been issued for Thomas and Humphrey, and Utah prosecutors are seeking proceeds from the sales.


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The MTBS team is pleased to announce the availability of Vireio Perception 2.03 which includes some crafty new features, bug fixes, and some new games. More importantly, we've created a dedicated Vireio Perception microsite on MTBS. We'd like to see new builds contributed on a weekly basis, and there is a real shot at doing some wonderful things with these free and open source drivers.
Did you think we forgot about Vireio Perception? NOT!
Long overdue, the latest build of Vireio Perception will be released on July 4, 2014 at 8:00PM EDT. In addition to some creative new features and more games supported, we've taken some exciting steps for the Vireio community as well.


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Wireless software maker PCTel PCTI, -1.22% filed suit Tuesday against 3Com coms charging the networking equipment company with manipulating an international technology standards group. PCTel alleges that 3Com gave "sweetheart" deals to vendors that, in turn, proved harmful to modem purchasers in California.
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Enterprise Singapore, a government agency set up to develop the startup ecosystem, is supporting a new blockchain accelerator program called Tribe Accelerator.
Announced Tuesday by TRIVE Ventures, an early stage Southeast Asia-focused venture capital firm based in Singapore, the accelerator is being launched in partnership South Korea’s ICON Foundation, as a technical partner, and PwC Singapore’s Venture Hub.
Seeking to drive widespread adoption of blockchain technology across Asia, Tribe Accelerator aims to help startups achieve “real-world applicability and impact” beyond technical considerations like smart contracts and interoperability.
It further aims to provide a platform for traditional enterprises and government agencies to work alongside the upcoming blockchain projects.
“As the accelerator targets later stage startups past their Series A funding rounds, Tribe will offer significantly more value as it provides startups with access to its network of governmental and business mentors, technical support, technical talent and ultimately gain global exposure, which will help incubated startups translate their blockchain concepts into real products,” TRIVE partner Ng Yi Ming told CoinDesk.
The program is scheduled to officially launch in early 2019, the firm said, adding that, for the first batch of companies, it will not take equity or charge a participation fee.
“By working with Tribe Accelerator, we hope to create more innovative and disruptive blockchain startups to capture growth opportunities locally and overseas,” said Jonathan Lim, Enterprise Singapore’s director of startup and global innovation alliance, in an announcement.
Singapore image via Shutterstock
The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.


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Who couldn’t love “Roll Your Own” as a marketing slogan?
But lest you jump to conclusions, #RollYourOwn is the catchphrase (and hashtag) that Harley-Davidson is promoting to “break the stereotype of who rides Harley-Davidson motorcycles and how they ride them,” according to their press release.
And on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at its Speedway exhibit area in Daytona, Harley held a bike show called “Custom Kings Bike Shout Out,”in which a handful of individualized bikes were on display, with the winner to be determined through a vote on social media.
As you’ll see from the photos, the term “custom” is truly in the eye of the beholder – Check out my friend Smitty’s Rat Bike!
Roll on, bros.
Check out the photo gallery:


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PLANO, Texas – Frito-Lay has issued a voluntary recall of a limited number – less than 7,000 bags – of 14.5 oz and 1 oz Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips that may contain undeclared soy and wheat ingredients from spicy sweet chili tortilla chips.
Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or wheat run the risk of illness should they consume these products.
The products covered by this recall were distributed at retail stores only in Pennsylvania and other outlets, such as foodservice locations and vending machines. Consumers would have been able to purchase the chips as early as June 29, 2023.
No other Frito-Lay or Doritos products, flavors, sizes, or variety packs are recalled.
No allergic reactions related to this matter have been reported to date. If consumers have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or wheat, they should not consume the product and discard it immediately. Frito-Lay has informed the FDA of this action.
Consumers can contact Frito-Lay Consumer Relations at 1-800-352-4477 (9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday).


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What is in this article?:
- Are Consumers Ready for a TV that Watches Back?
- Big Brother as Big Marketer
This new interactivity opens up possibilities for advertisers who will be able to develop more targeted pitches, but raises some of the same privacy concerns of data collection on the Web.
LAS VEGAS -- In the new world of technology, television is not just for watching. It is also watching you.
So-called smart TVs being unveiled this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show offer technologies that watch the viewer, in an effort to offer more relevant programming.
The idea may sound eerie to those familiar with George Orwell's novel "1984," but people in the industry say this is the next step in the evolution of TV viewing.
Chinese manufacturer TCL unveiled at the show a new TV and set-top box to be sold later this year in the U.S. using the Google TV platform which recognizes who is watching in order to suggest potential programs.
The new TV developed with Marvell Technology Group uses sensors and voice recognition to determine who is viewing and can offer streamed or live programs which appear to appeal to an individual or family.
"We have developed many innovations to personalize the viewing experience," said Haohong Wang, general manager in the U.S. for TCL, a major global manufacturer which has made TVs under the RCA and Thomson brands.
This offers a "game-changing entertainment experience for consumers around the world that will drive the smart TV market forward at a rapid pace," said Weili Dai, co-founder of Marvell.
Panasonic (IW 1000/31) also used CES to show its new Viera smart television which can recognize users and create a home screen allow programming tailored for each.
Other manufacturers are working on similar technologies that take advantage of television over Internet.


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Kajaria Ceramics, among the most prominent brands to have on-ground presence during India’s international cricket matches at home, will also be visible on-air during New Zealand Cricket teams tour of India, starting next week.
The largest tiles manufactures in India is one of the four on-air sponsors for the India-New Zealand cricket series. The host broadcaster Star India has inked the on-air broadcast sponsorship deals with Kajaria, Vimal Paan Masala, Honeywell Air Purifiers and PaisaBazaar.com.
Star India is also promoting the series as “Time for your brand to score big!” in its inaugural campaign for the three-ODI and three T20I tour by the Kiwis.
The broadcaster is expecting another four to six on-air sponsors for the series. New Zealand being the No. 1 T20 side on the International Cricket Council rankings, it gives the broadcaster a good pitch to sell the series, coming immediately after the high-profile Australia tour and the Diwali season.
Each one-day will have an inventory of up to 150 to 170 spots. The broadcaster claims to be getting good demand for the slot. “We will have another four to six brands in addition to the four already on board,” a Star India management source confirmed to insidesport.co. “All the deals will be closed by Diwali.”
New Zealand start their tour of India from Mumbai next week. The Kiwis, on the tour for three one-day and as many T-20 internationals, are scheduled to play two warm up games in Mumbai, also the host city for the first ODI.
The series starting immediately after the Diwali gives the brands a better deal than the matches against Australia, which off course had Diwali and bigger team battle premiums attached to it.


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On Black Friday in 2013, millions of consumers shopped at retailers that had been breached by point-of-sale (POS) malware. A year later, has anything changed?
Target admitted in December 2013 that it was breached between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 of that year in an incident in which 70 million customers were impacted. The breach also cost Target $148 million in expenses and took the jobs of Target's CIO and CEO.
As it turns out, the Target breach was only the leading edge of an avalanche of retail breaches that were disclosed in 2014. Grocery chain SuperValu, UPS, Michaels, Dairy Queen, Goodwill, Staples and Home Depot are among the retailers that admitted being breached during the year.
Surprisingly, while the Target breach was reported last December and was the subject of intense scrutiny and discussion in the first half of this year, lessons learned from that incident apparently were not enough to stem the tide.
Home Depot, for example, reported its breach in September, with the actual attack lasting from April to September. That means that Home Depot's systems were breached long after Target's disclosure and long after the retailer should have been able to discern lessons and best practices from that incident.
With Home Depot, the retailer has admitted that a third-party vendor's username and password were compromised. That credential compromise was then leveraged by the attacker to gain access to the Home Depot network. Once inside, a privilege escalation flaw was exploited, giving the attacker broader access. With that access, some form of POS malware was deployed, which is how the customer information was stolen.
The problem with the Home Depot breach scenario is that it is likely the same as what happened at Target. It is also likely the same scenario that has played out at other retailers as well, including some that consumers will shop at on Black Friday.
While this has been a year of disclosures and discussion about retail breaches, the simple truth is this: Little has changed. POS malware is still widely deployed, with the Backoff POS malware alone infecting a thousand retailers, according to the U.S. Secret Service.
Going a step further, privilege escalation vulnerabilities, which in my view are at the root of many retail breaches, remain difficult to deal with. Case in point, it was just last week that Microsoft warned that a complete fix of a potentially compromised domain requires the organization to completely rebuild its domain. Given the proximity to Black Friday and the complexity of rebuilding domains, I suspect that not all retailers that run Windows have actually heeded Microsoft's advice.
While there are likely still privilege escalation risks present in some retailer networks and there are also likely still many undetected POS infections, not all is lost.
While the risk of retailer breaches on Black Friday is still present, there is much reason for optimism too.
Thanks to the Target breach and those like it, there has been heightened awareness among law enforcement and credit card issuers. While as yet unknown breaches and POS malware might well be lurking on Black Friday retailer systems, the "good guys" are watching for bad things.


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KARACHI: The electronic/Internet and mobile banking is rapidly growing in Pakistan as Internet banking has increased to 80 per cent with 17 million transactions and mobile banking has grown to 149 per cent, reaching Rs 67.2 billion during the fiscal year 2013-14.
According to State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Annual Payment System Review, retail payments also registered inspiring growth and POS Transactions reached 24 million, valuing Rs124 billion during the period under review. These transactions are 33 per cent higher in volume and 38.5 per cent in value. ATM transactions have increased 30 per cent to 258 million with the value of Rs.2.6 trillion. While, Call Centre & Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Banking has recorded 0.67 million volume and Rs9.5 billion value, reflecting 4pc growth in volume and 17pc increase in value.
The SBP report added that 98.5 million volume was witnessed in Real Time Online Banking (RTOB) transactions as its value was recorded Rs30.2 trillion, showing an increase of around 11pc each. Real-time gross settlement processed over 600,000 payments worth Rs149 trillion as compared to 488,018 transactions worth Rs162 trillion in 2012-13, showing an increase of 23pc while the value showed a decrease of 7.7pc.


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Pos Malaysia collaborates with Saito University College to develop logistics professionalsMarch 25, 2022 | National News
KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): Pos Malaysia Bhd has inked a memorandum of agreement with Saito University College (Saito UC) to develop future logistics professionals through integrated learning opportunities.
In a statement on Thursday (March 24), the national courier said key to the collaboration is the establishment of the Saito UC – Pos Malaysia Learning Hub.
It said the learning hub aims to provide future logistics professionals with applied and work-integrated learning, along with practical exposure to Pos Malaysia’s business and logistics solutions.
Pos Malaysia group chief executive officer Charles Brewer said the future of logistics is bright in Malaysia.
“Local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are aggressively looking to expand their customer base by exploring opportunities both domestically and across the Asia Pacific region.
“It is the golden age in e-commerce, with the rise in business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B) and customer-to-customer (C2C) segments,” he said.
Brewer said Pos Malaysia aims to establish an academic incubator where aspiring logistics professionals can thrive through direct mentorship, development of skills and cultivation of innovative ideas.
Under the agreement, Pos Malaysia and Saito UC will work closely to infuse industry elements into the Bachelor Degree of Business, Logistics and MBA programme modules.
Pos Malaysia will provide supervision, mentorship, and training for Saito UC’s students throughout the work-integrated learning experience and offer internship opportunities for students to gain professional experience.
Meanwhile, Saito UC vice chancellor Professor Dr Vinitha Guptan said the collaboration will enable students to transition seamlessly into the workplace and stand out among their peers.


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Labs of Latvia culled a list of 16 Latvian startups to watch from the winners of TechChill’s
2021 50 Founders Battle, insiders reveal the reasons they think Brexit has positioned Lithuania as the top European fintech capital, Asya joins DigitalWell Ventures as their first Baltic and deeptech company, CopyMonkey.ai has automated copywriting product descriptions for e-commerce stores, TWINO hosted talks about the future of investing and fintech, Nordigen’s free banking API raised 2 million euros, and the commission free investment platform Lightyear raised 1.2 million pounds.
The Baltic startups and scaleups to watch in 2021
Sifted is out with a list of the Baltic startups to watch, like BTV portfolio companies Kedeon and Asya.ai.
Check out the full list here.
16 Up-and-Coming Latvian Startups You Should Know
To cull a shortlist of Latvian startups to watch, the winners of the 50 Founders Battle at TechChill 2021 are listed below, keeping you at the forefront of the ever-changing ecosystem.
Typbot- Fintech, Founded 2019, intelligent chatbot used for marketing/sales, including customer onboarding and leadgen, with a focus on fintech and insurtech
Snapio- Fintech, Founded 2020, contextual shopping with an optimized checkout process
Fintelligence- Fintech, Founded 2020, automated “know your customer” software that utilized AI for media screening and analysis
Longenesis- B2B, Founded 2017, shortens the amount of time needed for clinical medical trials by optimizing comms and processes
GetFocused- B2B, Founded 2019, remote meeting management software, also provides organizational structure and data to streamline process
CopyMonkey.ai- Ai+ML, Founded 2020, writes product descriptions for e-commerce stores
My3Dcloud- Ai+ML, Founded 2017, online workspace for 3D project collaboration, claims to speed up process by 30%
Sharentic- Sustainability, Founded 2020, helps people rent/rent out belongings
Extratique- Sustainability, Founded 2020, blend natural ingredients to help improve gut health, flagship product is CannSynBiotic
Empyrio- Sustainability, Founded 2018, compact micro-incinerator to turn organic waste into energy
VReach- Sustainability, Founded 2017, VR to treat autism and improve rehabilitation by bringing together diverse specialists
Cellbox Labs- Hardware and IoT, Founded 2020, build miniature organs with a complete environment at the cellular level to help create treatments
HackMotion- Hardware and IoT, Founded 2016, identifies swing of golf players and suggests improvements
BeeSage- Hardware and IoT, Founded 2020, smart beehive that monitors the health and activity of the swarm remotely
Z-Triton- Hardware and IoT, Founded 2019, amphibious vehicle and camper for individuals
Adventum Tech- Hardware and IoT, Founded 2020, smart engineering with products to collect and analyze data for better building
How Brexit fuelled Lithuania’s ambitions to become Europe’s fintech capital
Experts like the Vice-Minister for Finance, Vaida Cesnuleviciute, and Bank of Lithuania Board Member, Marius Jurgilas, both credit official policies, encouraging experimentation and innovation, and embracing ease of entry for companies for the growth.
The 2020 Global Fintech Index from Findexable found that Lithuania is the 4th most powerful fintech hub behind the US, UK, and Singapore, with over 200 companies based in the country
Much of this is due to internal work, with players including the Bank of Lithuania, learning institutions, corporations, accelerators, startups, and investors collaborating
Some of the policies include ease of licensing, freedom for tech development, the regulatory sandbox, remote customer onboarding, and a central banking platform
Younger professionals are also encouraged by specialized school programs and working in a more innovative and global environment, thanks to a decade of international finance and banking giants working within Lithuania
Additionally, Brexit has made working within the UK more difficult for both corporations and individuals, opening a gap for companies and pulling more skilled workers home
Asya joins DigitalWell Ventures accelerator
Asya, creators of an AI based app that analyzes audio and video for emotional tells called “Closer to you”, have just joined the DigitalWell Ventures accelerator.
Used to help couples have more positive, deep, and meaningful interactions by providing feedback and topics to discuss while avoiding fights with the machine-learning embedded in the app
Co-founder Ariel A. Tabaks, who built the app with his brother, says “It is almost like a fitness app that gives you data so you can train and improve”
The company is DigitalWell’s first Baltic and first deep-tech based startup ever
Asya focuses on ethical AI, and is now looking to launch in Sweden and Nordic countries, bringing a communication solution to couples that’s a cheaper and simpler step to take before attending marriage counseling
CopyMonkey.ai Creates Product Descriptions for Online Stores
CopyMonkey.ai is an AI solution that writes product descriptions for e-commerce sites that’s looking to expand internationally and add more languages to the platform.
Founders claim that it is 90 times faster than humans, and it’s certainly cheaper, turning out copy in as little as 30 seconds and said to be 95% usable on the first go
The company is currently focuses on SMEs and product descriptions, and have just added English as well as Russian to the available languages
While based in Russia and working in Russian, they’re working with Overkill Ventures’ Latvian startup accelerator
Company was founded in September and raised 60,000 euros in March of 2021
FinTech Talks by TWINO: A new era of investing
An official TechChill side event that’s the first of its kind discussed a “new era of investing”, pulling a number of diverse field experts in to discuss the future of fintech and its role in how and where investments will be made.
Hosted at TWINO in Riga, experts including Kristjan Kangro, Founder & CEO at Change Invest, Kaidi Ruusalepp, Founder & CEO at Funderbeam, Thomas Kralow, Trader at ThomasKralow, Liene Dubava, Member of the Management Board, Head of Baltic Issuer Services at Nasdaq Riga, and Pauls Miklaševičs, Chief Asset Management Officer at BlueOrange Bank
Topics included the effect 2020 had on current investment trends and possible future market directions
Markets were mainly saved from Covid impacts by centralized financial institutions, and even as crypto rises, it highlighted the importance of centralized finance and national institutions
Household expenditures went down, more investments can move to digital with no issues and it’s become globalized and more accessible for ll
Millenials and Gen Z are starting to move into retail investment, while there’s growing interest in investment education
Also touched on the negative environmental impact of cryptocurrencies
Top tips from the investors include: Taking time to explore the scenery, knowing yourself and your opportunities, and diversifying and investing in what you care about
Free open banking API Nordigen raises 2 million euros
The first ever free banking API platform in Europe, Nordigen has expanded their network of banks and nabbed 2.1 million euros in investments to further democratize access to banking data.
Nordigen works within a freemium framework, offering developers access to banking insights and analysis of banking data, whereas competitors tax users for information that’s free to access in a clunky and outdated way
The amount of API users has quadrupled in the past few months, and they’ve moved from supporting 300 bank APIs to 1,000 in only a few months
Investors include: Black Pearls VC, Inventure, Highgoal Capital, ID4 Ventures, Superangel, and Calchas Holding
Angel investors include: Artis Kehris, Henry Nilert, Gerri Kodres, and Riivo Anton
Nrodigen aims to democratize access to banking data and make it a more seamless and hassle-free experience
Lightyear, a stock trading app created by early Wise employees, lands €1.2 million
Based in London and Tallinn, Lightyear is a stock-trading and investment platform that’s completely commission free and plans to open in Q3 of 2021 for business.
Individual investments were made by Taavet Hinrikus, a co-founder of Wise, Stem Tamkivi, a co-founded of Teleport, and Jaan Tallinn, a co-founder of Skype
Angel investors include Ott Kaukver, Wander Rutgers, and Kaarel Kotkas
The founders are Martin Sokk and Mikhel Aamer, early employees of Wise that saw a gap in the market, and have brought on former Robinhood, Revolut, and other Wise employees onto the team
The company aims to open the field of investing up to “normal” investors across the globe by providing more open information and charging fewer and lower fees
The app is expected in Q3 of 2021 for use


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There are about to be a lot fewer masks on the Strip.
Nearly one year after Nevada first issued a mandatory face covering policy, casinos across the valley are allowing fully vaccinated guests — and, for some, vaccinated employees — to opt out of wearing masks.
The new policies follow a Thursday guidance update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saying fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask in most indoor and outdoor settings.
“The new CDC guidance is a milestone moment in returning to a sense of normalcy,” said Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resort Association, which represents the state’s gaming and resort industry. “Nevada’s resorts will continue to promote and encourage vaccination as they remain critical to saving lives.”
On Thursday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board said Silver State casinos could instill mask policies that are more restrictive than CDC guidance. The board will not require or prohibit Nevada casinos from confirming guests’ vaccination status, but encouraged gaming licensees to post signage with the latest CDC mask guidance.
At least six Las Vegas casino operators have updated their masking policies to no longer require masks for fully vaccinated visitors: Caesars Entertainment Inc., Wynn Resorts Ltd., MGM Resorts, Treasure Island, Las Vegas Sands Corp. and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Other businesses are reviewing the new CDC guidelines and reevaluating their policies. Some, like Walmart and Sam’s Club, have already dropped the face mask requirements for certain individuals.
Others, like Target, Home Depot, Walgreens and Macy’s, are not ditching the mask requirement just yet.
The timing of the new CDC guidance left some academics in epidemiology and aerosol transmission concerned about whether the changes arrived too soon and could further disease transmission.
“I think it makes perfect scientific sense. And unfortunately, it’s going to be absolutely impossible to implement,” UNLV epidemiologist Brian Labus said. “The problem is it basically treats vaccinated people and unvaccinated people differently, which is fine. But there is no easy way in a public setting to figure out who belongs in which of those groups.”
About 47 percent of the American population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine so far. The new measures are meant to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
In theory? That could work, Labus said. In practice? He’s skeptical.
“The problem is, you can get the benefits without actually having to get vaccinated by just claiming that you were vaccinated,” said Labus, who also sits on the governor’s coronavirus advisory task force. “So even though it could encourage some people to get vaccinated, it could just encourage people to lie and say they are vaccinated as well.”
The majority of casino operators’ updated mask policies allow only guests who are fully vaccinated to forgo masks, but don’t require patrons to show any proof of vaccination. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas did say it reserves the right to request proof of vaccination on a case-by-case basis, but will largely rely on guests to follow the appropriate safety measures based on their vaccination status.
The Cosmopolitan, Treasure Island, Wynn Resorts Ltd. and Caesars Entertainment Inc. have said vaccinated employees can go mask-free as well. Other operators, including MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands Corp., are still requiring face masks for all workers for the time being.
Many casino operators have encouraged their employees to get vaccinated so the companies could receive regulator approval to raise casino capacity to 100 percent. These efforts reduce the chance a casino employee contracts or carries the coronavirus, and as a result, set casinos somewhat apart from the rest of the community, Labus said.
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 said the union will “remain vigilant” to ensure that workers are protected while on the job, and urges employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“If workers are vaccinated, they do not have to wear a mask as the employer has directed, but if anyone wants to continue wearing their mask, that is their right and they should be treated with kindness and respect,” a Friday statement reads.
Retailers and restaurants
The Nevada Restaurant Association said Friday that many restaurant operators are evaluating their own policies following the new CDC guidance.
“Many operators have made their decision after much consideration and thought, so we ask that customers proceed with patience and understanding as restaurants attempt to respond to this new guidance while working towards recovery,” said Alexandria Dazlich, director of government and public relations for the trade group, in a statement Friday.
Fully vaccinated shoppers do not need to wear a mask at Walmart and Sam’s Club, Walmart said Friday in a memo to its employees. Target, Home Depot and some other large retailers said they will continue to require shoppers to wear masks in stores, though some have said that they are reviewing the CDC’s guidance and reevaluating store policies.
“As a destination for COVID vaccine and testing we have decided to keep our current face covering policy in place for the time being,” Walgreens spokesperson Erin Loverher said in a statement. “The safety of our team members and customers is our top priority and will continue to guide our decision process.”
Some grocers and warehouse clubs, like Trader Joe’s and Costco, said they will also ditch the mask requirements for fully vaccinated shoppers in U.S. locations where there are no mask mandates.
Costco said it won’t require proof of vaccination, but “we ask for members’ responsible and respectful cooperation with this revised policy.” Face coverings will be required at Costco’s pharmacy, optical and hearing aid departments.
Albertsons, which owns Vons, will still require masks, said company spokeswoman Nancy Keane. Smith’s also said Friday it will still require customers to wear a mask.
Kroger, which owns Smith’s, said it is reviewing safety practices and the CDC’s latest guidance as well as soliciting feedback from store employees “to guide the next phase of our policy.”
Brent Gardner, senior marketing manager of Fashion Show Las Vegas, said in a statement that the shopping mall will continue to follow state and local guidelines related to face coverings. “The health and well-being of our guests, tenants and employees remains our highest priority. As local guidelines change, we will update our policies to reflect those changes.”
Prudent to wait?
The mask guidance came “a little earlier” then expected for Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech professor of environmental and water resources engineering who studies infectious disease transmission through aerosols. In a statement, she said she thought it would’ve been prudent to wait until everyone willing to get the vaccine, ages 12 and up, would have the chance, about July 1.
She encouraged unvaccinated people to continue wearing masks and said “good ventilation and filtration remain key” for controlling virus levels in the air, “particularly when large numbers of people mix indoors for long periods of time.”
Alex Huffman, a bioaerosol research professor at the University of Denver, said improved indoor air quality takes on added importance without masks. The timing of the CDC’s mask rules “blindsided” Huffman, he said. “I don’t know anybody that it didn’t catch off guard.”
Masks provide “a visual cue that something is different, and I need to pay attention,” said Huffman, who has studied the science and messaging of preventive steps. “Once you take that off, I’m a little worried that the other things are also going to go away.”
Masks remain effective at preventing aerosol spread of the coronavirus, he said. With fewer people wearing masks, vaccination becomes all the more important, he said.
“It just casts this image, in my opinion, that, ‘You know, things are back to normal. Let’s do what we want to do. Let’s party up,’ ” Huffman said. “And there’s even obviously, this attitude of go to Vegas and leave in Vegas, whatever happens in Vegas.”
Breaking down company policies
MGM’s policy went into effect at noon on Friday. Its Las Vegas properties include Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, The Mirage, New York-New York and Park MGM.
Company spokesman Brian Ahern said the properties will not ask guests for proof of their vaccination status.
“This newest update represents another major step in restoring our economy and industry,” MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in a Friday letter to employees.
MGM employees still are required to wear a mask at this time, even if they are fully vaccinated. Hornbuckle said he hopes to update the mask policy for employees “soon.”
“If you have not yet received a vaccine, I strongly encourage you to get one for free at our vaccination clinic at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center,” Hornbuckle said in the letter. “Vaccination is a critically important tool in protecting each other and our communities, and this newest update represents another major step in restoring our economy and industry.”
Caesars announced Friday it won’t require fully vaccinated guests or employees to wear masks while visiting its Nevada properties. Guests or employees who haven’t been vaccinated must still wear a mask.
Caesars operates multiple Las Vegas properties including Flamingo, Bally’s, Caesars Palace, Rio, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, The Linq Hotel, Harrah’s Las Vegas and The Cromwell.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Friday that as of that afternoon, fully vaccinated guests will not be required to wear a face mask “in most areas” of The Venetian. Employees are still required to wear a company-issued face mask while on property “at this time,” according to a company statement.
The Cosmopolitan’s new masking policy says fully vaccinated guests and employees will no longer need to wear face coverings, according to a Friday statement from the company.
Employees who remain unvaccinated will be required to wear a company-issued mask while on property and undergo weekly COVID-19 tests.
As of Friday, employees and guests at Phil Ruffin-owned Treasure Island will not be required to wear masks. Those not fully vaccinated at the property will be required to wear a mask at all times while at the property, unless actively eating or drinking in an authorized area, according to a company statement.
Wynn Resorts — which owns Wynn Las Vegas and Encore — revealed Thursday evening that fully vaccinated guests and employees will not be required to wear masks.
“We trust our guests to take the appropriate precautions based on their personal vaccination status,” a company statement reads.
Company spokesman Michael Weaver said 91 percent of employees have been vaccinated so far. Both Wynn and MGM verify employee vaccinations by having workers upload an image of their vaccination card to an online portal. The Cosmopolitan verifies workers’ vaccination status through its certified employee vaccination record database.
Spokespeople for Sands, Caesars and Treasure Island did not respond to a request for comment how the property verifies vaccinations among workers and guests.
The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Sheldon Adelson, the late chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., which operates The Venetian.
Contact Bailey Schulz at email@example.com. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter. Contact Mike Shoro at firstname.lastname@example.org or 702-387-5290. Follow @mike_shoro on Twitter. Review-Journal reporter Jonathan Ng contributed to this report.


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The failed $17.4 billion deal could potentially harm Dow''s plans to buy rival company Rohm & Haas
, the story stated.
Proceeds from the Detroit-based K-Dow venture were to be used to repay a large amount of the $15.3 billion Rohm & Haas acquisition, the story noted.
Dow claims that several other companies have expressed interest in becoming involved in a venture similar to that backed out of by Kuwait, the story added.
to read previous CM e-News Daily™
coverage of this topic.


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Another interesting study that makes you think about our microbiome. From NPR:
Anyone with a drawerful of T-shirts knows that the synthetic ones can get sour after just a brief jog, while old-school cotton T-shirts remain relatively stink-free all day. And now science explains why. The bacteria that flourish on a sweaty polyester T-shirt are different from those that grow on cotton, researchers at the University of Ghent in Belgium found. Polyester makes a happy home for Micrococcus bacteria, while Staphylococcus, a common armpit denizen, was found on both poly and cotton.
Microbes love the cozy warmth of the human armpit; it's like a trip to the tropics without ever having to leave home. And it's crowded in there. Those microbes eat compounds in sweat and generate odors, which support a flourishing deodorant industry.
The scientists asked 26 volunteers to take a spinning class while wearing shirts made of cotton, poly or blends. The shirts were then incubated for a day, and the microbes extracted and DNA fingerprinted. Volunteers also had their armpits swabbed.
It turns out the bugs on the shirts are different from the bugs in the pits. While Corynebacterium is thought to be the main cause of armpit body odor, there was no Corynebacterium on the clothes. Instead, Staphylococcus flourished on cotton and poly, and Micrococcus, bacteria also known for making malodor, loved polyester.
He's also trying to help people with excessive body odor by giving them armpit bacteria transplants. "We have done transplants with about 15 people, and most of them have been successful," Callewaert, a Ph.D. student in applied biological sciences at the University of Ghent, tells Shots. "All have had an effect short term, but the bad odor comes back after a few months for some people."
Manufacturers have tried to make polyester fabric less hospitable to bacteria by impregnating it with antimicrobials like silver nanoparticles or triclosan. Both products have been criticized as having potentially negative impacts on the environment, and there are few data on how they might affect the wearer. Callewaert thinks the ultimate solution will be something more organic — supplant bad bugs with good ones.


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New financial technology—so-called fintech—has rapidly become an important part of the financial industry, from mobile payment systems to cryptocurrencies. But it also represents a new area of national security vulnerability for the United States. The U.S. is a leader in fintech investment and development for now, but other countries are quickly catching up in key areas. U.S. policymakers should act to improve fintech regulations and coordinate a strategy in order to ensure that this kind of technology remains a strength, rather than a vulnerability, for the U.S.
There has been a huge investment boom in fintech in recent years, with an estimated $111 billion or more invested globally in 2018, according to research from KPMG. Fintech has seen more mainstream use, especially in countries like China, where mobile payments now outstrip any other country in the world—there were over $17 trillion in such payments in China in 2017—and where a range of fintech products are widely used, from peer-to-peer lending platforms to app-based insurance and investment products.
Read the full article in World Politics Review.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops from Activision Blizzard, which launches on Tuesday, is expected to crush formidable opposition and become the biggest selling action video game of the year.
The game, made by developer Treyarch, is expected to sell 13m-15m units this quarter, slightly less than its Modern Warfare predecessor made by the Infinity Ward studio. But this will only be the start of a campaign to fulfil the game’s earnings potential.
Its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, remained the top game in the following three quarters after its release a year ago, helped by significant digital sales of add-on map packs that extended the battlefield and the franchise.
Digital revenues are a bright spot for an industry that has seen an 8 per cent decline of its traditional “packaged goods” disc-based business so far this year, according to the NPD research firm.
Retail sales have become a double-edged sword for publishers – the game discs that are sold are often traded back once played by consumers and exchanged at the stores for other used games, denying publishers further revenues.
...more at FT.com


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Small New Zealand towns are welcoming new businesses seeking cheaper rent, more space and the support of a local community.
As ‘working from home’ evolves into a normal part of business operations, people are now looking to shift out of the main cities, in search of better work-life balance and lower costs.
Shared office spaces are now opening up in small towns, like Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula, featuring ‘hot desks’ where people can rent a space for a few hours a day, a day or a week.
Thames Business Association chief, Sue Lewis-O’Halloran, says there is a trend developing in people who are realising they can work from home and therefore “don’t have to live in big cities and be saddled with big mortgages and traffic congestion.”
In Hauraki, Mayor Toby Adams, said his council focused on “rolling out the red carpet” for businesses, not red tape.
“We’re aware of a number of new businesses that have popped up since lockdown, and we have also been contacted by people wanting to start new businesses or expand.
Businesses operating online within the district are also doing well and with the cheaper property prices and commercial rents, Hauraki provides a great opportunity for people wanting to start businesses away from the main centres.
”All our main towns have ultra-fast broadband, so having a great lifestyle and working remotely is a realistic option, too.”


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With new celebrity beauty and self-care lines dropping on what seems like the daily, it can be hard to keep up with what’s trending in the world of celebrity business ventures. For anyone wondering which of these A-list headed brands is the real deal amongst consumers, Cosmetify just released data on the most popular celeb beauty brands of 2023 thus far, and the results prove that some lines just never fail.
Cosmetify’s ranking index took into account several factors like overall revenue and social media popularity, and the results concluded that the one and only Rihanna’s brand, Fenty Beauty, took first. From the brand’s focus on providing an extensive, inclusive shade range to their high-quality formulas and fellow A-lister fans, Fenty racked up an annual revenue of over $580 million, and scored an incredible 9.76/10 for overall score–factoring in all aspects of analysis. Since Cosmetify’s last ranking, Fenty beauty has remained unwavering in their first-place ranking, and their steady popularity is only further proved by the brand’s recent expansion into eight African countries and iconic SuperBowl feature.
Unsurprisingly, the runner up and third place celeb beauty brands were that of Kylie Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics and Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty, respectively. Kylie Cosmetics came in at a close second with an overall ranking of 9.64/10 and Rare Beauty following close behind with an 8.97/10. Regardless of ranking, it’s safe to say that the era of celebrity-owned beauty brands is not going anywhere soon.


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As it appeared in the daily nation of September 22nd 2015
by Lucy Kiruthu intro
When I visited an electronics retail shop last week four out of the five ladies that were on the first counter were on their mobile phones. One was talking on the phone while the other three were either just scrolling through social media, photos or possibly just texting. Is this how the mobile phone is transforming the customer experience? Is the mobile phone transforming the customer experience for the worse or for the better? Could it be that the 3 ladies scrolling down their phones were actually transacting on the phone with their customers? Possibly not.
Several reports on the future of the customer experience have shown without doubt that people across the globe are increasingly becoming mobile. The mobile phone has transformed the customer experience in many ways. The debate on digitalization of customer experiences has been going on for years. It started first with computerization and today it focuses more on the mobile phone. A 2011 EY report titled “The digitization of everything” and a 2012 McKinsey report titled “Perspective on digital business” urged organizations not to be left behind but to adapt to changing consumer behaviour. After lagging behind for example, Nakumatt recently got onto the “lipa na Mpesa” bandwagon. Many others still remain behind in other basic aspects of the mobile customer experience such as sending an enquiry.
Many Smart Companies in Kenya especially those in the banking industry and off course those in Telecommunications were however early adopters. I recall walking my sister who was visiting from the USA through our mobile enable banking with excitement because not often do we beat them in technology. A recent report by Altimeter-Group titled “The inevitability of Mobile-Only-Customer-Experience” states that the Mobile will become the standard for hosting the customer journey and thus prioritizing the mobile customer experience is essential to thrive in this new era. The Altimeter report further explains that “To win among mobile- and digital-first customers, organizations must focus on learning more about customer frustrations, expectations, and behaviours specific to mobile”. The report also explains four steps to creating mobile-first customer experience namely (1) Map the mobile customer journey (2) Re-Imagine a mobile experience (3) Measure and optimize and finally (4) Align everything & everyone. Has your organization already mapped the mobile customer journey?
The mobile phone will continue to transform the customer experience in many ways. Research firm Gartner recently reported that 89% of the marketers who intend to compete on customer experience will fail if they do not offer mobile-enabled interactions in real-time. My brother in law often says that if our grandmothers who passed away in the 1990 came back to life, the most fascinating thing would be the mobile phone. Many of us could not even imagine of a future with mobile transactions 10 years ago. Today, some smart companies are already thinking the future 10 years from now. One thing I am so sure about this future is that the use of mobile phones by frontline staff is certainly not one of the ways that the customers experience will evolve.
Lucy Kiruthu is a Management Consultant and Trainer and can be reached on email@example.com/old or via twitter @kiruthulucy


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ZERUND Raises Undisclosed Amount In Pre-Series A The startup manufactures eco-friendly, cost-effective, earthquake resistant bricks from plastic waste
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
ZERUND, an innovative brick manufacturing startup, has raised an undisclosed amount in pre-Series A round from NEDFi Venture Capital (NVCL). The Assam-based startup has raised a total of INR 4 crore, including the current round.
Started in 2018 by Rupam Choudhury, Mousum Talukdar and David Pratim Gogoi, ZERUND is providing eco-friendly, cost-effective, crack/earthquake resistant, lightweight bricks made from waste plastic and other waste materials as ingredients. The brand currently operates out of its manufacturing facility in Pathsala, Assam.
"The construction market is poised for rigorous innovations and creations. People are opting for more eco-friendly options which have widened the scope of exploration for the manufacturers too. We have witnessed 85 per cent month-on-month traction in terms of sales and further to the demand are looking forward to expanding rigorously, said David Pratim Gogoi, co-founder and CEO, ZERUND.
"We are committed to supporting the team and the innovative company in their future endeavors to reach newer heights in the construction material domain," said Nikunja Borthakur, senior CGM, corporate affairs, Numaligarh refinery limited.


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Safeway in talks over possible sale of company
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Following its $2.1-billion purchase of Oakley Inc.
Thursday, eyewear maker Luxottica SpA
While Luxottica's acquisition strategy will take a break, the company will keep looking for licensing agreements to produce eyewear for luxury fashion houses, Guerra added.
"On that front, we're already working on new items. We've just launched Polo. By the end of the year it will be Tiffany's TIF turn. We won't stop there," he told the paper.
Luxottica already makes eyewear under license for Prada, Bulgari (BUL.MI), Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana.
Newspaper Web site: http://www.repubblica.it


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Unconfident Consumers – The Effects of Energy Prices
If it wasn’t clear enough, the European economy is headed towards a recession. The economic scars caused by global pressures, along with neighbor Russia’s conflict with Ukraine have shown themselves in full form. The seasonality of these effects is a result of the energy sector being affected. The war has caused energy prices to skyrocket throughout Europe due to the weaponization of the energy markets by Russia, and although governments have tried their best to mitigate the effects, it’s now wintertime.
Winter brings greater demand for energy and considering how expensive energy is European households’ pockets are starting to become dry. With household energy prices up 41.5 percent in the last year, consumers have been forced to divert their money into paying energy bills as heating is needed in the winter. Along with this, the increase in energy prices is leading to inflation across most goods as, energy is needed to produce those items. Income isn’t rising to sustain the rise in expenditures, forcing families to spend less in the economy, and that’s the killer of the European economy. Data from October found that the European Union’s retail sales have fallen by 1.8 percent from the previous month, which is the greatest decline since July of 2021. Consumer spending is vital to the health of the economy, and we are witnessing a decline in services in the EU too. Despite this, the labor market is still strong over there, which could present problems when it comes to interest rates. Interest costs are another thing rising for European households, and the ECB could look to increase rates if necessary.
Want to learn how to invest? Download the Invstr app, where you can play Fantasy Finance and manage a virtual investment portfolio, or open a brokerage account and invest for real. Take our interactive investing course on Invstr Academy and become a better investor today!
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.


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A woman turned heads at a construction industry awards ceremony – by wearing a gown made from high-vis vests.
Kelly Cartright, 31, is the boss of Norwich-based construction recruitment firm Core Recruiter. And recently she made quite the statement at a construction industry awards ceremony.
She wore an evening gown crafted from high-vis vests, designed by seamstress Hannah Wilde. Kelly felt more at home in her high-vis and steel toe caps than in fancy evening wear.
She said: "I always struggle with anxiety and imposter syndrome but I think wearing something you're comfortable in, settles your nerves a little bit more."
She added: "When you are walking into an awards ceremony, you feel like you don't belong but I feel comfortable on a building site in my PPE."
Kelly joked about showing up in her PPE, but decided to take it to the next level with her unique dress. "I loved the dress and Hannah smashed the brief completely," she continued.
She was a finalist for the "Local Hero Eastern" category at the National Federation of Builders' Top 100 Influential Women in Construction Awards held on October 4.
The worker revealed people were "astounded" at how good the dress looked and everyone "got the message behind" her outfit.
Kelly said: "Obviously everyone was astounded at what it looked like."
Seamstress Hannah, 48, who used six extra-large fluorescent orange vests to create her "construction worker" masterpiece, said: "Kelly asked me to make the dress for her earlier this year purely based on the fact she feels more comfortable in site gear than all glammed up.
"So I deconstructed a few high-vis vests and cut out new pattern shapes. Then I put those pattern shapes back as a dress which took just under a week."
Hannah started her business in 2013 and in January this year opened her own shop in Lakenham, Norfolk, specialising in bridal and evening wear. She enjoys making a wide variety of clothes including when she made headbands for NHS workers during Covid.
The idea for the construction themed dress was born after Kelly made comments about the dress code ahead of an industry awards ceremony. She said she felt more comfortable in her hi-vis and steel toe-capped boots, which sparked the stereotype challenging dress.
And Hannah claimed seeing Kelly's dress receive so much praise has proved particularly satisfying. Hannah added: "The response has been amazing and so positive towards not just the dress and its design but the meaning behind it.
"I have had enquiries from across the country about making similar for other people and have had a lot of bookings coming in for next year's wedding season following the dress being seen online."
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